How many miles per gallon does a 1979 Suburban get?
In mixed driving, a 1979 Suburban typically gets about 10 to 14 miles per gallon, with the exact figure depending on the engine, drivetrain, and overall condition.
To understand these figures, it's helpful to review the engine options Chevrolet offered in 1979 and how drivetrain choices affected mileage.
Engine options and their impact
The Suburban offered several V8 engines in 1979, each affecting fuel economy differently.
- 350 cubic inch V8 (about 5.7 liters) — typically the most efficient option among the gasoline V8s, yielding roughly 12–14 mpg combined in 2WD or slightly less with 4WD.
- 400 cubic inch V8 (about 6.6 liters) — a bit thirstier, often delivering about 11–13 mpg combined.
- 454 cubic inch V8 (about 7.4 liters) — the least efficient, commonly around 9–11 mpg combined.
Engine choice was a strong determinant of efficiency, with the 350 offering the best real-world mileage and the 454 offering the lowest, especially under load or with air conditioning running.
Drivetrain and other factors
Beyond engine size, drivetrain and other factors also shaped mpg. Heavier configurations and 4WD typically reduced fuel economy by a couple of mpg compared with their 2WD counterparts.
- 2WD vs 4WD — 4WD Suburbans generally logged lower mpg, particularly in city driving or on tough terrain.
- Transmission and gearing — manual or automatic transmissions with less aggressive gearing could affect highway efficiency.
- Weight and aerodynamics — the tall, boxy shape and heavy build of the Suburban limited highway efficiency, especially at steady highway speeds.
In practice, a well-maintained Suburban with a 350 V8 in a 2WD setup might see about 12–14 mpg in mixed driving, while 4WD versions or those with larger engines tended toward the lower end, around 9–12 mpg.
Real-world ranges by setup
Several setup configurations yield different mpg ranges in practice. The following are approximate ranges observed in typical usage for the 1979 Suburban era.
- 2WD with 350 V8: roughly 12–14 mpg combined; highway numbers commonly in the mid-teens when driven smoothly.
- 2WD with 400 V8: roughly 11–13 mpg combined; similar highway performance with modest decreases.
- 2WD with 454 V8: roughly 9–11 mpg combined; city driving can drop below 10 mpg; highway can approach 12–14 under favorable conditions.
- 4WD variants (any engine): typically 9–12 mpg combined, depending on gearing and terrain.
These figures illustrate how a single Suburban model could vary widely based on engine and drive configuration.
Summary
The 1979 Suburban’s fuel economy was limited by its size and era. Engine choice and drivetrain were the biggest levers: small-block 350 V8s offered the best efficiency, while big-blocks like the 454 and 4WD configurations pulled the numbers down. Real-world combined mpg generally fell in the 9–14 mpg range, with highway figures often higher for the more efficient setups and poorer conditions dragging numbers down. For restoration or daily driving today, expect a broad spread based on configuration and maintenance.
